Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-08-19
Whole No. 437.

tunity for change and recreation.
Myself and wife have just enjoyed
such a release for brief season, and
can testify TO It's ample compensation
in revived spirit and vigor With the
! thermometer playing along the scale OF
the nineties in the shade and the atmos-
phere robbed OF much Of its oxygen so
as 60 induce painful lassitude, the
very thought Of getting out of the old
rats Wds cAhilarating. Even the thick
dust that cnsWathed our train was
borne With the utmost cheerfullness
and tic old story at the station behind
ime" was endured with an unusual
measure of christian forttude. We
were out, and for Il time free from
care, seeing new faces, hearing new
sounds. and busted with new thoughts.
Home friends. work all forgotten and
left behind. We were free; the air was
richer and sWeeter and the sun looked
down more kindly and the heaven that
had refused rain 50 long did not look
SO hrazen thore was music in the air
nd pleasure everywhere. The journey
revealed some of the results Of the long
continued dgodth The meadows and
pastures seemed utterly withered, in
many places scarcely a ycstigc of green
ness. Tn some places the fire had run
over The highway and the fields, and
lad been arrested only with the most
earnest efforts. The corn fields looked
sad with their stinted ears and folded
leaves a promise - bushels to the acre,
uut q final conviction OF not reaping
even cine MANY were cutting what
remained to keep their cattle from
starving. That which impresSes me.
as hcsaddcst result OF the drought was
The death az so many trees, especially
of young naples.
We seized the opportunity of an ex-
euE,ion 10 Ottawa Beach, on Lake
Michigan. Taking the train at School
raft We went 20 Holland. mt the head
of Black Lake, which like many of the
bodies of water near the shore of our
great lakes is simply lagoon. From
his point We went 10y boat miles to
! ihc beach. we had nearly 800 in our
company and they richly enjoyed the
occasion. The entrance at the harbor
| Is ample Tor any vessel navigating this
fresh Sea and all vessels of these upper
axes could ind safe anchorage within,
mds,Wbed with wave or storm.
ottawa beach is divided by the entrance
| t) the harb0r; the north side is called
Inc beach while the south side bears
,hc namc of MakatdWa: the latter is
hc point ot greater intrest; there is a
range of q great hill from 200 To 300
feet lIigil resting close 10y the shore line.
From the highest point of this you sec
ONE oi the finest views afforded any
where. as iaudWard YOU can see the
Young city oI Holland. turning TO the
north dnd south. hills and bluffs piled
Jp Cf drift i'm by-gone centuries, stand
rs SentncIS along the shore, while
westward the sea spread out in all its
breadth and grandeur. Many of these
hill are covered with timber. the Hem
.Ock, Beech and Maple predominating
| In the valley. beneath the hill side. and
along the shore are tents and cottages;
many OF the latter are unique and are
SuDot JntlallY built. 1t Is most rO-
mantle spot and one where rest
and health and inspiration may be
found. But this great water is not the
only place of resort. they are multiply
| m all over the state about our small
meets of water We were at one of
| these, part of day. six miles from
Nichsburg and eight miles from Kala-
mazoo; ii Is ut Long Lake. and the'peo
pie of the latter place, have put up
number of substantial cottages here.
and they have Il large number of row
boats. ltWss apioneer day and several
| thousand were present.
J. NANAETwERP.